Clippers put home winning streak on the line vs. Mavs

The Los Angeles Clippers have taken care of business at home this season, last losing as the host Nov. 26 to New Orleans.

The Clippers aim for a 13th straight win at home Wednesday as the Dallas Mavericks are in town for a matchup at Staples Center. The Clippers, who won all 16 games in December, are 2-2 in the new year and recorded a 115-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors the last time out on Saturday.

Chris Paul tallied 27 points and nine assists, Blake Griffin added 20 points and Eric Bledsoe provided 17 for the Clippers, whose 12-game winning streak at home is a franchise best. The Clips also exacted revenge for a 115-94 loss to the Warriors on Jan. 2.

"They beat us twice and we wanted to protect our home court," Paul said of the Warriors.

Los Angeles is 17-3 at home and will close out the residency Saturday versus the Orlando Magic. The Clippers are an amazing 29-4 in the previous 33 regular-season games at Staples Center and have scored 104.9 ppg as the host.

Opponents are scoring just 91.7 ppg when visiting the Clippers.

On the injury front for the Clippers, top reserve Jamal Crawford (left foot) is questionable this evening and has missed two straight games. The former Sixth Man of the Year is third on the team with 16.5 ppg, while the Clippers' bench is second in the NBA with 41.1 ppg.

The struggling Mavericks will continue a three-game road trip Wednesday and opened the trek with a 100-94 loss at Utah on Monday.

Dirk Nowitzki recorded 20 points and Chris Kaman registered 14 points and nine rebounds in a losing cause. The Mavs struggled in the fourth quarter and were outscored by a 26-14 margin. They led 80-74 after three quarters, but have lost three in a row and 12 of the last 14 games.

"We're playing much better; we just can't close out the game," said Mavs forward Elton Brand, who had 11 points and nine boards. "The last few games have been ours, to be honest. We lost them ourselves. Give the other teams credit of course, but we had leads in the fourth (quarter) and opportunities."

Nowitzki is averaging 17.5 ppg in his last four games for Dallas, which got 13 points from leading scorer O.J. Mayo (18.3 ppg). The Mavericks have had at least five players score in double figures in each of their last four games.

The Mavericks are just 5-15 away from Big D and will close out the trek Thursday against the Sacramento Kings. In injury news for Dallas, forward Brandan Wright is doubtful Wednesday with a strained left quadriceps. He has missed four straight games.

Dallas suffered a 112-90 loss at the Clippers Dec. 5, when Crawford scored 20 points and Griffin chipped in 19 and 13 rebounds. Former Clipper Kaman recorded 14 points in that one for the Mavs, who have lost three of the past four meetings in this series, but are 17-4 in the last 21.